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Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Deciduous > Azalea/Rhododendron > Leaves discolored white, yellow, or pale green

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Azalea/Rhododendron > Leaves > Leaves discolored white, yellow, or pale green

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Iron chlorosis

  • Leaves are yellow with prominent green veins
  • Most evident on new growth
  • May be sporadic throughout the plant
  • In severe cases, new growth becomes white, stunted and dies
  • Most common in alkaline soils or heavy clay soils
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Two-spotted spider mite
Microsphaeria penicillata

  • White to yellow stippling on foliage; leaves can be off-green
  • Heavy infestations will cause leaves to turn white, yellow and ultimately grayish bronze; premature leaf drop may occur
  • Webbing may be present, especially when heavily infested
  • Mites usually appear in late June to August; they are more prevalent in hot, dry weather
  • Adult spider mites are small (approximately 1/50 inch long) and are hard to see; they are yellow to dark red with dark spots (need magnification to see)
  • More information on two-spotted spider mite
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Powdery mildew
Microsphaeria penicillata

  • White spots or blotches on leaves
  • In severe cases leaves and young shoots may be completely covered with white powdery fungal growth
  • Leaves may be stunted, curled or puckered
  • More information on powdery mildew
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Non-selective herbicide injury
(Round-up, Kleen-up, and other glyphosate products)

  • Yellowing, wilting, browning leaves and eventual death of foliage and plants
  • Damage usually appears first in new tissues
  • Shrubs sprayed during the summer or fall may not have noticeable injury until the following season when leaves appear as stunted, narrow, strap-like, and chlorotic

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